Instrument-panel construction



June 1929- H. c. M'STEVENS I INSTRUMEM PANEL CONSTRUCTIQN Filed Nov. is, 1926 Patented June 25, 1929.

PATENT QFFECE.

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GORPGRATION', OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL IIIOTORS OF DELAWARE.

INSTRUMENT-PANEL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed November 19, 1926. Serial No. 149,455.

This invention relates to instrument panels of the type in which a plurality of instruments are grouped together on the panel in symmetrical and pleasing arrangement. It is particularly adapted for use upon automobiles, motor boats or the like. Such panels as heretofore constructed have frequently been made of solid pieces of hard wood carefully finished to give an attractive appearance. According to my invention the appearance of such boards is closely simulated while the construction is simple and cheap permitting its use in quantity production. Thus, 1 preferably mount my instruments directly upon the panel or dashboard which customarily extends the full width of the passenger compartment. However, if desired, the instruments may be mounted upon a separate plate, so that the assembly may be conveniently made upon the bench and then applied to an opening in the dash board for display. \Vhile either of these methods of mounting may be used I prefer the former for the reason that the dash board is not weakened by the removal of material at its center. With the instruments thus mounted upon. the dash board, I apply a finishing plate to the assembly, this plate being apertured for the display of the in struments and preferably fitting within a peripheral bead or within a recess formed in the panel. My invention is chiefly concerned with the construction of the finishing plate. Thus I prefer to form it from sheets of material such as thin gage metal which has been lithographed to resemble wood. After lithographing, the plate is cut to the desired shape and provided with apertures for the display of the instruments. I then subject the plate to a stamping operation in which it is formed with interior flanges about the instrument openings and also about its periphery. When the finishing plate, made as described, is applied over the face of the panel and secured in position, the effect of a wooden panel is achieved. for the grain of the wood at the inturned portions follows that of the main body of the sheet. By this means I have succeeded in giving an attractive appearance to the instrument panel at small cost.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an automobile dash board upon which my improved instrument assembly is mounted;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken centrally through the panel.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the assembly;

Figs. 4 and 5 show alternative methods of securing the finishing plate to the panel.

In Fig- 1, I have indicated a conventional automobile dash board by the reference character 2. This board is formed in the stamping operation with a peripheral bead 4, and provided with an opening 6 for each of the instruments. The instruments are secured to the rear of the dash board by means of suitable clamping devices indicated at 8. The clamping device for the instruments at the top of the panel is in. the form of a plate 10, this plate carrying at a central point a clip 12 for receiving a lamp socket 1a carrying an incandescent bulb 16. This mounting of the bulb is described and. claimed in the application of Joseph Zubaty, Ser. No. 97,941, filed March 27, 1926. Each of the instruments is provided with a transparent opening so that light from the bulb will properly illuminate its dial. This is illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the speedometer 18 is shown provided with a window 20 for the purpose stated.

To improve the appearance of the panel as so far described, I have provided a finishing plate 22 preferably cut from flat stock, lithographed to resemble wood. This plate is apertured for the display of the various instruments and around each instrument opening, as well as at its periphery, is pro vided with an inturned flange 24 engaging the face of the dash board, and serving to space the finishing plate therefrom. The purpose of this is to give the finishing plate the appearance of thickness so that the completed assembly will closely resemble a wooden panel or a wood inlaid panel. The finishing plate 24 may be secured in position in any suitable manner. I have indicated at 80 screw bolts passing through the finishing plate and instrument board and securing them together. The fitting 32 in which the choke rod 34- slides serves the purpose of clamping the finishing plate to the panel at the top thereof. I

In Fig- 4, I have indicated a modified method of securing the finishing plate to the panel. In this case, the face plate indicated at 40 is provided With ears 42 at its periphery and the metal of the instrument board is sheared at intervals as at 44 for the passage of these ears which are then bent down to hold. the plate in position. In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the instrument board is depressed as at 46 and the board is apertnred as at 48, adjacent the depressed portion 46 for the reception of ears 50 integral with the face plate 52, these ears being likewise bent over to hold the finishing plate in position. Both of these methods of attachment as well as that shown in Fig. 2, possess the advantage that the sheared -the bead 4, as in F ig. 2, or the adjacent edge of the finishing plate is concealed by portions of the panel as in Figs. 4; and 5.

' I claim:

The combination of an automobile dash board, having openings therein for the display of instruments instruments secured in the said openings, face plate lithographed to resemble Wood secured over said instruments and having openings therein registering With the first named openings, the edges of said face plate being inwardly turned to give the appearance of thickness.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HERBERT C. M. STEVENS. 

